𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 ━ 𝙟. 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧

astronauts

A S T R O N A U T S

Ellie sat on a log by the horses as she attempted to play the guitar, Joel and Iris walk in front of her as Joel compliments, "that's starting to sound like something." Ellie looks up at the duo, "ugh, I suck."

"Nah... just need to build up your calluses, that's all." He reassures, "yeah." She responds as Iris says, "come on then." Ellie eyes light up as she looks giddy, "this it?" Joel nods, "yeah."

Ellie places the guitar next to her and stands up, "oh shit." They walk forward as Ellie says, "I'm gonna start guessing." Joel looks back at her, "you want to spoil your surprise now?"

"I dunno... is it... a dinosaur?" She asks, "stop guessing, I ain't gonna tell you." That doesn't stop the young girl, "Alright. Is it an elephant?" Joel groans as the woman next to him calls out with a mischievous grin, "keeping guessing kiddo." Ellie nods, "Okay, so not an elephant."

"Don't encourage her." Joel warns her, she pouts and whines, "aw, c'mon Joel." He shakes his head at her childish behaviour fondly as they continue walking. "Is it a convertible?" Ellie asks.

"You're not gonna guess." Joel tells her as they walk beside a river, "is it a puppy? Is it a lotta kittens." Ellie guess again, "you mean a litter." Joel corrects, "what's a litter?" The redhead's face scrunches up as the adults chuckle, "a bunch of kittens."

"Why wouldn't you call it just a bunch of kittens?" She questions, "I don't know why- it's called a litter." Joel says frustrated, "that's so dumb."

"It's not a litter of kittens." Iris confirms, "Okay, okay. Hot air balloon." Ellie guesses, "more walkin', less talkin'?" Joel answers.

They have squeeze along a gap as Joel holds a branch out of the way, Ellie goes first as he cautions, "watch your step." She brushes him off, "I got it." As she was passing to the over side, Joel nudges her in, "oops." Sending her under the water.

Joel laughs heartily as Ellie resurfaces, "what is wrong with you?" He composes himself as he replies, "you should see your face right now." Ellie exclaims, "what if I drowned?" He rolls his eyes at the young girl, "you're not gonna drown. Gotta work on that confidence, kiddo." He chuckles again as Ellie scoffs, "yeah, keep laughing, old man. See what happens."

"This way." He says as he and Iris walk forward, "you're the worst!" Ellie yells as she swims towards the shore, "your swimming's getting better. Remember now, don't just flail about, you gotta-" the redhead cuts him off as she stands up, "push the water with your whole arm. Blah, blah, blah." Joel smiles, "glad to know I'm getting through."

Joel walks off as Iris stops Ellie from walking forward, they see the man looking at a deer in the distance, and the pair silently communicate with each other on their plan, they nod to each other as Joel shouts, "girls! Come get a look at this. You see that deer over there." They come up to either side of him, "where?" Ellie asks.

He points at the animal, "see it? Just through there, look." The girls lean forward, "yeah... we see it. Looks like..." They both grab Joel's arms and hurl him into the water, but he grips onto the nearest thing he can, which happened to be Iris, he pulls her under with him as she screams, "Joel!"